PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that face masks could soon be required in public indoor spaces to curtail the coronavirus outbreak, acknowledging that infections were again on the rise.
His comments, in a television interview marking Bastille Day, came after he oversaw the traditional military ceremony that was drastically downsized because of the pandemic.
"I would like to make masks mandatory in all enclosed public spaces," Macron said in the interview, a Bastille Day tradition he had shunned since taking office three years ago.
"We have indications that (the outbreak) is accelerating a bit." The virus reproduction rate, the "R" ratio, has again risen above one in France, he said, meaning that a single person infected with Covid-19 is likely spreading the disease to others.
Face masks, which have been mandatory on public transport for months, could be required for entering shops, offices and other indoor spaces from August 1, Macron said.
Macron's comments come as doctors have warned of a potential second wave of infections, possibly in the coming weeks, which could again overwhelm hospitals and require new lockdowns that could further hammer the economy.
"I advise everyone listening to us to wear a mask as much as possible when they go out, and especially in an enclosed space," he said. Asked whether France had enough masks in case of a new spike in cases, following massive shortages as the outbreak worsened in March, Macron said: "We will be ready."
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